Door-operating mechanism



April 16, 1935. R'. H. GREEGOR 1,998,233

. DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM y Filed sept. 4,Y 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 l.

Afro/Mfrs April 16, 1935. R, H. GREEGOR 1,998,233

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Afro/Mfrs Patented Apr. 16, 1935 DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM Ralph H. Greegor, Columbus, Ohio, assig'nor to The Kinnear Mfg. Company, Columbus, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application september 4, 1934, serial No. 742,534

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in door-operating mechanism, and has i r its object to provide an improved means or instrumentality for preventing the accidental closing of a door, particularly a vertically moving door.

It is an object of this invention to provide, in connection with a door formed of a plurality of relatively movable sections, means to successively move the sections, and means to prevent the accidental and unintentional closing of the door sections.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a door-operating mechanism for operating a door composed of sections, and in which the sections are successively moved for opening-a passageway closed by the door, and on one of which sections is means for automatically preventing the accidental and unintentional closing of the door.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of the door, with part of the supporting structure for the door shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3- of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a. section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The door operating mechanism, the subject of the invention, is adapted to be used with doors of various forms, particularly vertically movable doors and doors formed of sections. In the present instance the mechanism is used in connection with a door composed of two sections, slidable with relation to each other and guided by suitable instrumentalities provided therefor on spaced hollow columns I. These columns may form the jambs of walls, or they may be used independently of any wall structure. In the present instance the columns are supported on the decks of pier sheds used for housing and storing various articles, or for other desired purposes.

Each column has one or more jambs 2, to which a plate 3 is attached at one edge. To the other edge of this plate is attached one arm of an angle iron 4. There is also provided on each column, spaced from the angle iron 4, an I-beam 5. This I-beam is especially used when a column is used in conjunction with two doors. The tops of two' columns forming a passageway closed by a door are connected by means of a transversely extending, vertically disposed plate I. Extending inwardly from the upper end of each member 5 is a horizontally disposed beam 1, braced by mea-ns of a brace member 8 extending from the beam to the member 5. The lower ends of the columns rest upon a deck iioor 9, while at the upper ends of these columns is. an overhead structure IIJ.

' The door for closing the passageway formed by two adjacent columns is formed of two sections, a lower' section II and an upperl section I2. At the bottom of the lower section and at each side thereof is a casting I3 attached to a lateral channel member I5. Each edge of the door has thereon an angle iron I4, which has one arm in engagement with the channel member I5 and the other arm spaced .from the edge of the door to provide a groove into which oneI arm of the angle iron 4 extends. The casting I3 has thereon a bearing IB in which a pin I 'l works. There is also a castingl I8 which has extending therefrom two arms I9, with holes therein to receive the pin I1. These arms engage opposite ends of the bearing I6.

The casting I8 has thereon a laterally extending arm 20, which has projecting therefrom at right angles a xed jaw 2I. The casting I8 has extending upwardly therefrom a pair of spaced members 22, between which a lever 23 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a pivot pin 24. On one end of the lever 23 is a cam 25 which forms a jaw cooperating with the jaw 2l to grip one arm 26 of an angle iron, which has another arm 21 attached to the standard. The arm 26 forms a ange which is one element of the door supporting mechanism. The arm 2l forms a trackway and part of a guide channel for a roller 28 located on one end of the pin il.

Cooperating with the arm 2l to form the channel for guiding the roller 28 is the member 5. On the end of the pin Il remote from. the roller 28 is a roller 29, adapted to engage a track 30 formed on the standard. 'I'he rollers 28 and 29 serve as guide rollers and anti-friction means to guide the door as it opens and closes.

The end of the lever 23 remote from the cam jaw 25 has attached thereto one end of a chain 3l by means of a pin 32. This chain passes upwardly and over a sprocket 33 located on a shaft 34, suitably supported at the upper end of a standard. After passing over the sprocket 33 the chain passes beneath and about a pulley 35 located upon the upper end of a counter-balance weight 36, and extends upwardly and is attached to some suitable attaching means 31. A shaft 38 is connected at one end by means of a worm and gear mechanism located in a box 39 to the shaft 34 for rotating the shaft and the sprocket wheels thereon. The chain, sprocket and pulley mechanisms are arranged in pairs, one at each edge of the door, while there is only one shaft 38 for rotating the shaft 34. The shaft 38 is rotated by means of a sprocket 4U on a shaft 40a, connected to the shaft by bevel gears in a box 38a. Around the sprocket 40 is a chainv 4| by which the sprocket is rotated for rotating the shaft 34.

At each edge and at the top of the lower door section is a roller 42 adapted to engage a guide member 43 located on the member 5. This roller is also used for guiding the upper end of the door onto a trackway used for supporting and guiding the door when in elevated position, Adjacent each roller 42 is a bevel faced lug 44. A cam member 45 is pivoted on a pin 46 so that the cam member 45 may be adjusted and held by any suitable means to properly engage the roller 42.

On the lower edge of the beam l is a horizontally disposed track 50 which extends inwardly from the standard. The end of this track adjacent the standard is arcuate, as indicatedby the numeral 49. Above and spaced from the arcuate end of the track is an arcuate guide 41 formed as part of a supporting bracket 48. As the lower section of the door moves upwardly the upper end thereof, through the roller 42, is guided by the cam 45 and the arcuate guide 41 onto the track 5U.

On the upper end of the top section, at each edge, there is a dog 5I and a roller 52 'adapted to travel along a track 53 formed on the upper edge of the bracket 48. There is also provided on the upper edge of this bracket a ratchet which has therein a plurality of teeth 54 for engagement by the dog to hold the upper end of the door section close to the standards. Attached to the dog and extending downwardly is an arm 55 adapted to be engaged by the lug 44 as the lower section of the door moves upwardly for elevating the upper section, The lug 44 first engages the lower end of the arm to release the dog from the ratchet so that the upper section of the door may be moved. As the lower section of the door moves upwardly, with the lug 44 in engagement with the arm 55, the upper'section is carried along with the lower-section but resting on top of it so that the two are in superimposed position and supported upon the track 50 when the door is in open position.

When the door is closed the door sections and operating mechanism are substantially in the position shown in Figure 2. In this position the lower section of the door rests upon the decks of the sheds, or other supporting structure, while the upper section is supported by the rollers 52 above the upper ends of the plates 3. The door at the point where the two sections come together is held against the standards by means of the rollers 42 and the guide and wedging members 43. The upper end of the upper section is held in closed position by means of the dogs 5| engaging the ratchet teeth 54.

In the event it is desired to open the door the chain 4| is operated to cause the shaft 34 to rotate and move the sprocket chains 3|. The rotation of the shaft 34 first moves the lower section of the door upwardly. The rollers 42, as this section moves upwardly, pass over the cams 45, engage the arcuate part 4l of the brackets, and the tracks 50. After the rollers 42 or about the time that they have engaged the cam members 45, the lugs 44 engage the arms 55 to rst release the dogs 5| and thereafter move the upper section of the door along with the lower section.. The operation is continued until both sections are supported in horizontal position by the tracks 50.

In the event the sprocket chains 3| should break either during the opening or closing of the door, the cam jaw 25 will be forced into engagement with the members 2G, thereby gripping these members through the cooperation of the xed jaws 2|. For the purpose of urging the jaws 25 into cooperative relation with the jaws 2| for gripping the arms 26 for supporting the door, each jaw 25 is provided with a spring 56, tending to urge the cam jaw toward the xed jaw. These jaws gripping the arms prevent the door from falling.

It will be noticed that the operating power `is applied to the door through the levers 23,

which have thereon the cam jaws. The application of lifting force to the'door automatically releases the jaws, both fixed and pivoted, from the arms 26 but whenever one or more of the chains 3| are broken the corresponding jaw' or jaws will grip the arms 26.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modications as come within the scope of my claims and my invention.

Havingthus full described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a. door support and guide, a pin supported on the door, a member pivoted on the pin and having thereon a fixed jaw, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said member, said lever having on one end a cam jaw for cooperating with the fixed jaw, and a guide roller on the pin.

2. A door support and guide comprising a member having thereon a pair of rollers and a pivoted clamp, said clamp comprising a xed jaw and a movable jaw.

3. A door support and guide mechanism comprising a member having thereon a bearing, a pin in the bearing, a roller on the pin, and a clamp pivoted on the pin.

4. A door support and guide mechanism comprising a. member having thereon a bearing, a pin in the bearing, a roller on the pin, and a clamp pivoted on the pin, said clamp consisting of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw and a spring tending to urge the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw.

5. A door support and guide mechanism comprising a member having thereon a bearing, a pin in the bearing, a casting having a pair of arms pivoted to the pin at the ends of the bearing, a roller on the pin adjacent each arm, and a clamp on the casting.

6. A door support and guide mechanism comprising a member having thereon a bearing, a pin in the bearing, a casting having 'a pair of arms pivoted to the pin at the ends of the bear'- ing, a roller on the pin adjacent each arm, and a clamp on the casting, said clamp comprising a xed jaw formed integral with the casting and a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw.

'7. A door support and guide mechanism comprising a member having thereon a bearing, a pin in the bearing, a casting having a pair of arms pivoted to the pin at the ends of the bearing. a roller on the pin adjacent each arm, and a clamp on the casting, said clamp consisting of a fixed jaw formed integral with the casting, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the casting and having on one end a cam jaw cooper- K ating with the xed jaw, and a spring urging the 'cam jaw towards the fixed jaw.

8. In a door-operating mechanism, in combination with a guide and a flange, a pin supported on the door, a roller on the pin for engagement with the guide, means pivotally mounted on the pin to clamp the ange, said clamp means consisting of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw and a spring urging the movable jawtowards the fixed jaw, and means connected to the movable jaw and acting against the spring to move the door.

9. In a door-operating mechanism, in combination with a guide and a flange,` a pin supported on the door, a roller on the pin for engagement with the guide, means pivotally mounted on the pin to clamp the flange, said clamp means consisting of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw and a spring urging the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw, and means connected to the movable jaw and acting against the spring to move the door, said last-named means comprising a chain and mea acting on the chain.

10. In a door-operating mechanism, in combination with a guide and a. ange, a pin supported on the door, a roller on the pin for engagement with the guide, means pivotally mounted on the pin to clamp the flange, said clamp means consisting of a. fixed jaw, a movable jaw and a. spring urging the movable jaw towards the xed jaw, and means connected to the movable jaw and acting against the spring to move the door, said lastnamed means comprising a chain attached at one end to a fixed point and at its other end to the movable jaw, a sprocket over which the chain passes, a pulley on the chain, a weight supported by the pulley, and means to rotate the spocket.

11. In a, door-operating mechanism, in cornbination with a guide and a ange, a member on the door, a pin on the member, a roller on each end of the pin for engaging the guide, a casting having arms pivotally mounted on the pin between the member and the rollers, a fixed jaw on the casting, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the casting, said lever having on one end a jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw to grip the flange, means tending to urge the lever jaw toward the first jaw, and means attached to the other end kof the lever to move the door and move the lever jaw away from the fixed jaw.

` 12. In a door-operating mechanism, in combination with a guideway having a ange therein, a door having a roller thereon in the guideway, door moving means, and means to connect the door-moving means to the door, said last-named means comprising gripping members within the guideway .to grip the flange.

l 13. In a door-operating-mechanism, in combination with a guideway having a flange therein, a door having a roller thereon in the guideway, door-moving means, and means to connect the door-moving means to the door, said lastnamed means comprising a xed member and a movable serrated member in the gudeway to grip the ange.

14. In a. door-operating mechanism, in combination with a guideway having a flange therein, a door having e. roller thereon in the guideway, means pivoted to the door to grip the flange, said .neans comprising a fixed jaw and a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end serrated to form a. jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw to grip the flange, and door-moving means connected to the other end of the lever.

RALPH H. GREEGOR. 

